Health officials: 13 cases of West Nile virus infection in New York state this year

ALBANY, N.Y. — Health officials say there have been 13 human cases of West Nile virus infection in New York so far this year, including the deaths of two older people.

They also say there have been no confirmed cases of another mosquito-borne ailment: eastern equine encephalitis.

And while testing has found West Nile in samples from 714 mosquito pools across the state, no insects carrying EEE have been found. The state health department says that compares with neighboring Massachusetts, where the number of mosquitoes infected with EEE is the most in 30 years.

People should take precautions against being bitten, including getting rid of standing water where mosquitoes breed.

The national West Nile outbreak this year involves many cases in Texas. The New York deaths were in Onondaga and Nassau counties.